Nation observing historic 7th March

GBNEWS24 DESK//

The historic 7th March, a memorable day in the history of Bengalis’, is being observed on Sunday with elaborate programmes.

This year the observance of the day will be more significant as the nation is going to celebrate the golden jubilee of the country’s independence on March 26 next while ‘Mujib Year’, the yearlong celebration of Bangabandhu’s birth centenary is going on, reports BSS.

The landmark fiery speech of Bangabandhu inspired the Bengalees to prepare for the War of Liberation.

The war began 18 days later, when the Pakistan Army launched “Operation Searchlight” against unarmed Bangalee civilians, intellectuals, students, politicians, and armed personnel.

On October 30 in 2017, the UNESCO recognised the historic speech as part of the world’s documentary heritage.

It has been included in the Memory of the World International Register, a list of world’s important documentary heritage maintained by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

On March 7, Bangabandhu in his historic speech at a mammoth rally in the then ‘Race Course Maidan’, now Suhrawardy Udyan, in the city directed the freedom-loving Bangalees for waging a decisive struggle against the Pakistani occupation forces.

In the 19-minute extempore speech from 4.23 pm before millions of people of former East Pakistan, Bangabandhu in unequivocal term said, “We spilled our blood…we are ready to shed more blood, the people of the country shall be freed, Inshallah!”

“Ebarer sangram amader muktir sangram, ebarer sangram swadhinatar sangram” – The struggle this time is for our emancipation, the struggle this time is for our independence- the great leader and the greatest Bangalee of all times went on to add.

During his deliberations amid thunderous slogans and applause, he also made a fervent appeal to the roaring people from all walks of life to take preparations for armed struggle against the tyranny, exploitation, subjugation and deprivation by Pakistani military junta with whatever they possessed and transforming every house into a fortress.